Air pollution causing respiratory ailments among people

A sharp spike in air pollution levels is causing respiratory ailments among the residents of twin cities after the air quality in the capital turned unhealthy due to persistent dry weather.

The twin cities' environment started polluting after a steady rise in air pollutant ratio due to increased vehicular emissions and human activities. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) daily air quality report also highlighted increased air pollutants ratio recorded above permissible limits. The air quality was also unhealthy.

The hazardous air pollutant particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), which was a lethal atmospheric contaminant, remained beyond 50 micro grammes per cubic meter on average which was higher than the NEQS of 35 mic-programmes per cubic meter and denoted the air quality unhealthy. The PM2.5 is generated through combustion of an engine, industrial emissions, burning garbage or inflammable material and dust blown up by fast moving cars plying on non-cemented patches of the roads.

Senior Pulmonologist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Dr Ziaul Haq said that dry and cold air was the main reason behind respiratory diseases during winter. He said the respiratory tract consisting of throat and lungs had internal surfaces possessing normal bacteria whereas there was no breach in it. However, he said the dry and cold air at different phases due to increased exposure of an individual in outdoors caused breaches in the lining of the respiratory tract that used to lead to an infection and also damage the normal secretions taking place inside the breathing organs.

Dr Haq said that at the moment there was an increase in the cases of people reporting breathing or respiratory complications which was mostly reported during extremely cold temperatures. He added that pulmonologists usually advise the elderly above 50 years of age or patients of chronic heart, kidneys and lung diseases to get a flu vaccine during the peak winter season to avoid respiratory diseases.

He said the people were also advised to avoid unnecessary prolonged outdoor visits during cold weather whereas in case of any visit they should properly cover their eyes and face.

Moreover, he also directed the masses to ensure the intake of warm fluids as necessary beverage like warm water and hot tea to control damage to the respiratory tract.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2022.